Continuous distilling apparatus.



A. L. OBRADOR. CONTINUOUS DISTILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1911. RBNEWED A1211. 29. 1914.

atented Aug. Il, 19M@ 2 SHBETSj-SHEET 11 A. L. OBRADGR.

CONTINUOUS DISTl-LLING APPARATUS. APLATION FILED AUG. 31, 1911. RNEWEDAPR. 29. 1914. Llfbw Patented Aug'. M, wm

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANTONIO LLODRA OBRADOR, 0F MANILA, EHIILIPPINE ISLANDS.

CONTINUOUS DISTILLING APPTUS.

Application filed August 31, 1911, Serial No. 647,054.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANTONIO LLODRA OBRADOR, subject of the King of Spain, re-,j siding at Manila, PhilippineV Islands, have invented certain new and useful Improve-i ments ini Continuous Distilling Apparatus,

of which the following is a speciication.

wherein the mash and the vapors pass through the various instrumentalities in opthe operation proceeding: on the counter current principle, and whereposite directions,

in the vapors from the boilers pass through a main distilling column inwhich condenj returned to thef sates are recovered and boilers.n

The primary feature of the present im-i provements is 'the provisionof an. auxiliary column which is arranged adjacent to the main column above referred to and is in communication with the latter and with the boilers. rlhe mash instead of passing directly into the main column or into the boilers passes into the auxiliary column, and from the latter to the' boilers. By virtue of these features of construction and operation,

a number of important advantages are ob-y tained, viz., the mash which passes into thei auxiliary column is raised to a tem erature but slightly less than that of the boiler with which said column is in communication, this f being edected by waste heat from said boiler, whereby the more volatile constituents ot the mash are vaporized and pass directly to the main column, thus preliminarily diverting a considerable portion of alcohol from the boilers so that the heavier parte only of the mash with their accompanying oils and acidst pass into the boilers and are therein more readily vaporized; .the auxiliary column raises the mash to a temperature which it is not possible to secure fore-warmer; and, the solid matters contained in the mash do not pass into the main column and consequently the necessity of dismantling` this columnA every few months for the purposes of cleaning is avoided.

' A further eature of improvement is the provision of a collecting chamber and a collecting plate of special construction at the upper end of the main column to receive oils and other heavy condensates which 'may hc drawn off in a special receptacle, and are thus prevented from owing back through the column and into the boilers.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

l is a similar view showing a condenser rlhis invention relates to improvements in f continuous distilling apparatus of the type,-

with any ordinary f Patented Aug.. 11, 191e'. Renewed April 29, 19111. Serial No. 835,333.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagram, partly in section, of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the main and auxiliary columns and the boilers. Fig. 3 which is employed at a certain stage of the passage of the mash and the vapors. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the improved ebullioscope.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

'llhe mash may be supplied from any suitable reservoir, as for instance, the large elevated vat 1 from which leads a pipe 2, the dow of mash through the pipe 2 being controlled by a suitable regulating valve 3. 'llhe pipe 2 communicates with the lower end of a re rigerating tower a and the mash after rising through the tower, passes by way of a connecting pipe 5 to an analyzing cylinder 6, passing from the latter through a pipe. 'l' to the auxiliary column 8. A supplemental valve controlled connection 9 is provided between the cylinder 6 and the pipe 7 for use in case the level of the liquid in the cylinder 6 is not as high as the opening of the pipe 7.

The auxiliary column 8 may bc oi any approved construction and, as shown, is generally similar to the main column 10 with which it communicates by a pipe 11- 'llhe pipe 11 leads from .the uppermost of the superposed chambers of the auxiliary column to a suitable chamber of the main column. lllhe auxiliary column also communicatcs with a boiler 12 Iby one or more pipes 13 which depend into said boiler. [The boiler 12 forms the last of a series and may be arranged above an intermediate boiler 1d, which receives the mash from the boiler 12 through a valve controlled pipe 15. rlhe mash passes' from the boiler 14 through a pipe 16 to a boiler 17 which is the rst of the series and which is subject to direct heat, as shown. ',lhe boiler 17 is provided with a discharge pipe 18 for the spent mash and in which is interposed the improved `ebullicscope attachment 19, to be hereafter specically described. rllhe pipes 13, 15, and 16, as

Well as the pipe which returns condensates from the column 10 to the boiler 12, ai-eprovided at their discharge ends with traps of any suitable construction, which serve to prevent. the passage of vapors through said pipes.

Sli

lcoming mash and The vapors from the boiler 17 pass by way of the pipe 20 to the boiler 14, and from the latter by way of the pipe 21 to the boiler 12. From the boiler 12 the vapors passl .to

the columns 8 and 10, the vapors passlng i .reference has been made', is arranged at the through the column 8 partially combining with the more volatile portions of the in'- 11 to the column 10. Fromthe column 10 the vapors pass by a pipe 22 to a worm'23,

which is arranged in the cylinder-6 and' wherein the heavier vaporous constituents are progressively condensed and returned by 1pes 24, of which a desired number may be employed, to the main column 10, the condensates descending through the successive chambers of said column and being ultimately returned to the boiler 12. For the purpose of thus returning the condensates to said boiler, the lower chamber of the column 10 communicatesin the usual manner with the boiler 12 by means of a pipe 10 having its end within said boiler provided with the usual trap to prevent the passage of vapors through said is tted, near its point of connection with the cylinder 6, with a valve 24a whereby the amount of condensate which is returned to .the column l0 may be' regulated as desired in accordance with the quantity and grade of alcohol which it is desired to recover. Obviously, if the valves 24 are positioned to reduce the quantity of condensate returnedv to the column 10, the amount of alcohol recovered will bel proportionately greater, -although the alcohol will be of somewhat lower grade. The ends of the pipes 24 which project into the column 10 are down-turned y so that their points of discharge will be submerged in the liquid in said column'in order to prevent vapors from entering said From the worm 23 the va ors pass by a pipe 25, to condenser 26, whic may-be of any desired form. As shown, said condenser includes a series of tubes through which water, admitted b a pipe 27 and led o vby a pipe 28,- circu ates. The vapors are cooled in the .condenser 26 and leaving the latter pass, by a pipe 29, to a worm 30, which is arranged in the tower 4. The worm 30 discharges the high proof alcohol linto a suitable receiving tank 31.

The column 10 in addition to the usual superposed chambers in which the various rades of condensates are recovered, has at its upper end a supplemental chamber 32, which is afforded by the provision of a collcctingplate 33. The latter is formed with a comparatively large number of perforations and the perforations are circumscribed by upwardly projecting flanges 34, which altord upon the upper side of the plate 33a number of intercommunicating canals or passages, upon which oils or other base matters not previously recovered and pipes.

passing through 'the pipe` pipe.` Each pipe 24- which would otherwise pass into the worm 23, are condensed, the condensate being discharged by a pipe 35, into a suitable ves-l sel 3 6.

The ebullioscope 19, to which a general upper ends of the two legs of'the pipe 18 and includes an elongated' somewhat `ogee bulb 37, which connects said 'legs and which is fitted with a suitable airvent 38 and a drain cock 39. The bulb 37 is also fitted near its discharge end with a suitably packed perforated copper tubel 40, which incloses and protects the bulb of an L-shaped ther.- mometer 41. The vertical leg of the thermometer projects beyond the bulb 37, and its horizontal leg is associated with a suitably supported plate 42, which carries a slidable scale 43. When the operation of the apparatus is started, the cock 39 is opened to prevent the heated liquid from gaining access to the bulb ofthe thermometer. When the boilin point is reached, which indication is ha by the mercury becoming steady in the leg of the thermometer, the cock 39 is closed. The boiling point first attained is 'that of water andis taken as the zero of the scale 43, the latter being moved to bring its zero indication in line with said boiling point. When alcohol commences to pass with the spent mashthis condition, as well as the percentage of alcohol passing, is indicated by the fall of the mercury inthe leg of the thermometer and thereupon the intake and outliow of mash is stopped. by operating the valve'in the ipe 15, untilall the alcohol remaining in t e boilers is recovered.

Aside from the advantages heretofore set forth, the construction has the further advantages of providing for a continuous operation and of the -recovery of high proof alcohol, and is capable of completely extracting the alcoholic contents from the mash, providing that the latter does not eX- ceed 12% alcoholic strength.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a continuous distilling apparatus the combination with a main distilling column and a series of boilers connected together and ultimately passing their vapors to the main column of an auxiliary distilling. column arranged adjacent the main column and in communication with the boilers to receive vapors therefrom and also in communication with the main column to pass vapors thereto, and a'mash conducting pipe communicating with the auxiliary column to deliver mash thereto, the said auxiliary column passing the mash delivered thereto by the said pipe to the boilers.

2. In a continuous distilling apparatus, the combination with a main distilling col` umn and a series of boilers connected tovlivered thereto g'ether and ultimately passing their vapors an auxiliary dis# to the main column of tilling column arranged adjacent the .main column and communicating at its lower end With the boilers to receive vapors therefrom, the auxiliary column embodying a plurality of superposed communicating chambers through which the vapors pass and in which condensates are recovered and returned to the boiler, a connection between the u permost of said chambers and the main co umn to pass vapors to the latter, and a mash conducting ipe communicating with the auxiliary co umn to deliver mash thereto the said auxiliary column passing the'mash de` to the boilers.

3. In a distilling apparatus,. `a series of boilers and a distilling column through which the vapors delivered by the boilers pass, the column embodying a plurality of superposed chambers in Which condensates are recovered and having at its upper end a supplemental chamber, the base of which consists of a plate having a comparatively large number of perforations and having upvvardl projecting flan es, circumscribing the per orations and dening. a multitude of communicating canals, and a pipe connected to the plate wherebyv the oils and other base matters collecting thereon may be drawn off.

In testimony whereof li have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witmesses. l

ANTON I0 LLODRA OBRADOR.

itnesses:

FRAIMINO G. CABAG, SIMEON FERNANDEZ. 

